ASSESSING THE SIGNIFICANCE ON ENDOSCOPY OF THICKENING OF LARGE BOWEL WALL ON ABDOMINAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN SUBJECTS WITH NO PRIOR HISTORY OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE

Abstract

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is a safe and effective imaging technique utilised in most disorders, including those of the abdomen. When a client undergoes an abdominal CT scan without a prior history of gastroenterological illness, BWT (bowel wall thickness) is seen. The relevance of this general result is still unclear, though. 

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of large bowel thickness on abdominal CT by comparing the results with a diagnosis made by colonoscopy.

Methods: In CT, those who had a colonoscopy during the previous 30 days and had a CECT finding of thickened large intestine wall were evaluated. Experts in the area performed colonoscopies on all individuals after routine bowel preparation. When necessary, biopsies were performed on the participants, and all results were documented. Those having a history of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, such as diverticulitis, infectious colitis, tuberculosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and/or colon cancer, were excluded.

Results: Of normal coloscopy individuals, 40% (n=12) showed diffuse involvement, 20% (n=6) showed rectum and sigmoid colon involvement, 16.66% (n=5) showed descending colon involvement, 10% (n=3) showed transverse colon involvement, and 13.33% (n=4) showed ascending colon involvement. Diffuse involvement was seen in 19.64% (n=11) of the abnormal coloscopy group participants, rectum and sigmoid colon in 30.35% (n=17) of the subjects, descending colon in 21.42% (n=12) of the subjects, transverse colon in 10.71% (n=6) of the subjects, and ascending colon in 17.85% (n=10) of the research subjects. Among the subjects exhibiting abnormal wall thickness, the CECT findings ultimately led to the diagnosis of ischemic colitis and non-specific colitis in 5.81% (n=5), diverticulitis in 6.97% (n=6), inflammatory bowel disease in 8.13% (n=7), tuberculosis in 8.13% (n=7), and colon cancer in 12.79% (n=11) of the study participants, respectively.

Conclusion: The current study concludes that, in subjects without a history of gastrointestinal disorders, there is a high predictive value of bowel wall thickening assessed on CT for abnormal findings on colonoscopy, including conditions like intestinal tuberculosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and/or colorectal cancer. Results from CECT, such as focus wall thickening greater than 7 mm and haemoglobin less than 10 g/dl, can be used to predict favourable colonoscopy results in patients who have colonic thickening on CT.